Rape and Justice in Ireland

Rape and Justice in Ireland, a groundbreaking book commissioned by the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, is the result of a four year independent research study into the process of prosecuting rape cases in Ireland.

This book is an important advance in our understanding of the reasons why so many rape cases are lost from the system during their progress from incident to reporting, to final court hearing, resulting in very low conviction rates for rape in Ireland. The book also offers a unique insight into the Irish justice system, as the authors were granted unprecedented access to the files of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the courts and the direct experiences of survivors of rape.

The key findings of this research expose the nature of the factors at play in navigating a rape case through the justice system. It shows how the quality of social and official support for survivors is vitally important in order to progress a case, and that survivors as well as officials tend to think and act in terms of "real rape" scenarios to the disadvantage of the majority of cases that do not fit those criteria. It also explores the factors that influence the DPP's decision to prosecute and those put forward in successful and unsuccessful court cases.

Rape and Justice in Ireland concludes with recommendations for comprehensive reform of the justice system to lead to more effective prosecution of rape cases, and concrete suggestions to help in the prevention of the crime. This is an important and pioneering book.